Scammers are trying to get personal information from people by pretending to help with applications for disability benefits and claims. A recent alert from the Social Security Inspector General warns of this phishing scam, and — whether or not you’ve started an application for benefits — these scammers could contact you. They’re taking a shot in the dark, hoping that you have started an application, and hoping you’ll give them a little more info over the phone. To “complete the process,” they might ask you to give, or confirm, your Social Security number or bank account numbers.
If you have started a disability claim, online or otherwise, Social Security might call you. However, they already have your name, Social Security number, date of birth, address, etc. They will not ask you to confirm it over the phone. If there is any doubt about who you are talking to, hang up at once. If you are pressured to give personal information over the phone, that's a sure sign that it is a scam.
If scammers get your information, you could face identity theft and benefit theft. So here are a few things you can do to help protect yourself:
1. Never give out personally identifying information to anyone you don't know.
2. If in doubt, hang up and call the Social Security office to see if it's really them who called you.
3. Never provide your bank information, such as an account number over the phone. If you need to give this to Social Security, be sure that you call them, not the other way around. Even if someone tells you they are from Social Security, they may not be.
4. Never wire money to anyone you don't know and trust. Many scams eventually get down to convincing you to wire money.
5. Do not print your Social Security number on checks or other shared documents.
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